title: A universal scheme to convert aromatic molecular monolayers into functional carbon nanomembranes.
abstract: Free-standing nanomembranes with molecular or atomic thickness are currently explored for separation technologies, electronics, and sensing. Their engineering with well-defined structural and functional properties is a challenge for materials research. Here we present a broadly applicable scheme to create mechanically stable carbon nanomembranes (CNMs) with a thickness of ~0.5 to ~3 nm. Monolayers of polyaromatic molecules (oligophenyls, hexaphenylbenzene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) were assembled and exposed to electrons that cross-link them into CNMs; subsequent pyrolysis converts the CNMs into graphene sheets. In this transformation the thickness, porosity, and surface functionality of the nanomembranes are determined by the monolayers, and structural and functional features are passed on from the molecules through their monolayers to the CNMs and finally on to the graphene. Our procedure is scalable to large areas and allows the engineering of ultrathin nanomembranes by controlling the composition and structure of precursor molecules and their monolayers.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physics, University of Bielefeld, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Polina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Angelova
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vieker
authors.forename: Nils-Eike
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matei
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Reimer
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurasch
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biskupek
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lorbach
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wunderlich
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terfort
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klapper
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Müllen
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gölzhäuser
authors.forename: Andrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turchanin
mesh_terms: D032701:Biomimetics; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D004583:Electrons; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry; D006371:Helium / Q000737:chemistry; D007477:Ions; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D016252:Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling / Q000379:methods; D008956:Models, Chemical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D006371:Helium; D002244:Carbon; D006108:Graphite